3 inmates hospitalized after suspicious meal

3/18/2005

Three Lucas County work-release inmates were taken to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center Wednesday after they ate food that contained what appeared to be metal shavings.

Two of the inmates were released from the hospital and returned to the facility, 1111 Madison Ave. One was kept for unrelated reasons, said Jean Atkin, county Common Pleas Court administrator.

She said work-release and the Correctional Treatment Facility, 1100 Jefferson Ave., receive food from the county jail, which contracts with Aramark for food service.

Treatment facility officials yesterday reported a similar problem, but they thought the pieces were aluminum foil, Ms. Atkin said. She said no one at the treatment facility ate the food, which was thrown away. Rick Keller, corrections administrator, said he did not hear of any food complaints in the jail.

Ms. Atkin said a complaint was lodged with the food provider. She said the contract with Aramark is up for renewal soon and that there have been some concerns about the food service. Aramark officials could not be reached for comment.